Henry a



(NoModel.)

H. A. MUELLER. CARPE.: SWBEPBR.

` 10.259901. i Patented Jim'ezo,I 1882.

afiunulunllllli UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY A. MUELLER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MARIAWIEDERSUM, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CARPET-SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,901, dated June 20,1852.

Application filed June 6. 1881. Renewed April 21, 1882. (No model.)

To allfwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. MUELLEE, of New Haven, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new within which thebrush is longitudinally and centrally arranged, with a dirt-receiver, B,at one side, and C at the opposite side.

plied.'

Instead of the usual socket on the bail to receive the handle, and inwhich it is difficult to retain the handle tight and tirm,Iconstruct thebail with a perforation through the center to receive a commonwood-screw, F, as seen in Fig. 3, and on the upper side ofthe bail, andnear the perforation, I construct one or more spurs, a, to enter the endof the handle E to prevent it from turning. The' handle is setin itsproper position onto the spurs, and the screw F inserted'through thebail into the handle secures-it to the bail in the most perfect manner.

As a means for dumping the dirt from the receivers, I construct the boxwit-h an opening into each receiver at one en d, as seen in Fig. 2. Thento that end I hinge arnetal ap, H, as seen in Fig. 1. Its own gravityholds it in a closed position; but when the sweeperis tipped, as in Fig.4, the fiap H retains its perpendicular position, and therefore swingsawayfrom the opening to permit the dirt to escape. The licor of thedirt-receivers extends outward, so that the iiap closes onto the oor,and so that the projecting part of the door forms a guard to preventaccidental opening of the liap.

D is the bail to which the handle E is ap- As a lneans'for supportingthe brush and the floor of the dirt-receivers, as also the fixed part ofthe hinge for the flap, I construct a plate, I, fixed to the end of thebox, and constructed with parts d of the knuckle for the hinge of thetlap, and with a central down-` ward projection, e, in which is avertical slot, f,'through which a bearing, h, for the brushis secured,as seen in Fig. 5, so as to be adjustable vertically to raise orlowerthat end ofthe brush. From the projection e an arm, i, extendsone to theright and the other to the leftto which the inner side of thedirt-receiver is attached, as seen in Fig. 2. The iiapHishung to theknuckles Z d by a pintle, in the usual manner for making a hinge. Tosupport the opposite end of the brush and make it adj ustable Iconstruct a plate, L, as seen in Fig. 6, which shows an inside view ofthe plate. Through this is a longitudinal slot, l, and on the inside aslot, m, for the pivot n of the brush. (See also Fig. 7.) This seat ismade by a ange ou the surface extending from the seat proper toward thebottom, gradually expanding, as seen in Fig. 6, the expanding mouthserving to guide the pivot to the seat.

Through the end A' of the box a bolt, r, is introduced through the slotl in the plate L, as seen in Fig. 7, a nut, r', upon the inside servingto bind the plate upon the inside of the box, the slot permitting theadjustment of the plate vertically, which raises or lowers the brush. j

In order that a single bolt may lserve the purpose to hold the plate L,a stud, s, is made on the back of the plate to set into a verticalgroove, t, in the end A' of the box. The stud s moving up and down withthe plate, and fitting fthe groove, preventsthe plate from turning, sothat the single'bolt is all that is required. p

P is an india-rubber guard arranged in a groove on the side of the box.This `guard is constructed, as seen in perspective, Fig. S, from astraight narrow strip, P, a little longer than the box, and with a boss,It, at each end. The box is constructed with a longitudinal groove oneach side to receive the strip. P, and with a recess, u, at each end,into which the bosses R may be pressed. These bosses pro- IOO ject inthe form of cushions, and when turned around onto the end of the box andset into their seats they serve to retain the strip orguard P in itsgroove, because they are larger than the thickness of the groove, andthe strain upon themmade by the strip is at right angles to their seat,so that it does not tend to draw them therefrom. The strip is stretchedso as to strain it longitudinally.

The wheels ot' this class of sweepers are usually provided with asoft-rubber tire. Various devices have been employed to hold the tiresin place,as with gum, or by making a groove in the face of the Wheel;butin either case theyare frequently run off the Wheel. To prevent thedetachment of the rubber tire I construct the Wheel T withradially-projecting spurs w on its surface, more orless in uumher, thenstretch the rubber tire X over the spurs, and so that the spurs enterthe rubber and hold it in position.

I do not vvish to be understood as broadly claiming a carpet-sweeperwith a Hap arranged to open the end of both the dirt-receivers, as such,I am aware, is not new; but I am not aware that a ap has been arrangedto retain its closed position, or to open simply by its own gravity, andWithout fastening devices to hold it in its closed position.

I am also avvare that india-rubber guards have been introduced ingrooves in the side of a sweeper, and therefore do not broadly claim Ysuch construction; but

What I do claim isl. In a carpet-sweeperconstructed with dirtreceiversand open at one end, the plate I, sccured to the box at the said end,constructed with a vertical slot,f, for the adjustment of the brush, andwith arms i to support the dirtreceivers, combined with the flap II,hinged to the said plate, substantially as described.

2. In a carpet-sweeper, the vertically-slotted plate L, constructed withthe seat on for the brush-pivot, and with a stud, s, on its oppositeside, combined with a bolt, r, through the end A of the box, and theslot in the plate, the said end A of the box constructed with a verticalgroove, t. on its inside to receive the stud s, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a carpet-sweeper, an india-rubber guard consisting of a straightnarrow strip, I), with a boss, It, at each end, the said stripintroduced into a longitudinal groove 0n the side of the box, the saidbosses turned onto the ends and inserted in corresponding recessesthereon, substantially as described.

HENRY A. MUELLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, L. D. ROGERS.

